on my heels and set off alone as hard as I could go for the harbour.

But it was too late. I rushed through the marketplace where all was
silent and deserted; I ran on to the wharves beyond and they were empty
save for the litter and embers of the fires Ar-hap's men had made during
their stay; I dashed out to the landing-place, and there at the hythe
the last boat-loads of the villains were just embarking, two boatloads
of them twenty yards from shore, and another still upon the beach.
This latter was careening over as a dusky group of men lifted aboard
to a heap of tumbled silks and stuffs in the stern such a sweet piece
of insensible merchandise as no man, I at least of all, could mistake.
It was Heru herself, and the rogues were ladling her on board like so
much sandal-wood or cotton sheeting. I did not wait for more, but out
came my sword, and yielding to a reckless impulse, for which perhaps last
night's wine was as much to blame as anything, I sprang down the steps and
leapt aboard of the boat just as it was pushed off upon the swift tide.
Full of Bersark rage, I cut one brawny copper-coloured thief down, and
struck another with my fist between the eyes so that he went headlong
into the water, sinking like lead, and deep into the great target of
his neighbour's chest I drove my blade. Had there been a man beside me,
had there been but two or three of all those silken triflers, too late
come on the terraces above to watch, we might have won. But all alone
what could I do? That last red beast turned on my blade, and as he fell
dragged me half down with him. I staggered up, and tugging the metal
from him turned on the next.

At that moment the cause of all the turmoil, roused by the fighting, came
to herself, and sitting up on the piled plunder in the boat stared round
for a moment with a childish horror at the barbarians whose prize she was,
then at me, then at the dead man at my feet whose blood was welling in a